Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister's Question Time from 19th May 1993.

PRIME MINISTER:

Biodiversity

Ms Short : To ask the Prime Minister which Government Departments have been and continue to be involved in discussions over the negotiation, ratification and implementation of the convention on biological diversity.

The Prime Minister : The Government Departments mainly involved include the Department of the Environment, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office--including the Overseas Development Administration--Her Majesty's Treasury, the Northern Ireland Office, the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Law Officers' Department, the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Decisions on these matters are taken collectively.

Economic Recovery

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister from what month or quarter he estimates the economic recovery began; and if he will set out the evidence from output and trade statistics underlying his estimate.

The Prime Minister [holding answer 17 May 1993] : It is always difficult to pinpoint economic turning points accurately until some time after they have occurred. But total output has been rising since last summer, and there have been encouraging signs--in figures for gross domestic product, manufacturing output, retail sales and exports--that recovery is under way across a broad front.